Combined key and flashlight holder



Jan. 11, 1955 P. T. POUTINEN COMBINED KEY AND FLASHLIGHT HOLDER FiledApril 2, 1954 INVEN TOR. 641/1 77 POUW/VE/V ATTORNEY United StatesPatent COMBINED KEY AND F LASHLIGHT HOLDER Paul T. Poutinen, Dania,Fla., assignor to Apex Products Corporation, Dania, Fla., a corporationof New York Application April 2, 1954, Serial No. 420,485

1 Claim. (Cl. 150-35) This invention relates to a new and usefulimprovement in a combined key and flashlight holder.

A prime object of the present invention is to provide a flexible andfoldable combined key and flashlight holder wherein the keys andflashlight are conveniently and compactly associated for convenient use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined key andflashlight holder wherein the flashlight is positioned for illuminatingthe key hole while a key is being inserted therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holder of this kind soconstructed as to allow the holder to be held in one hand and, servingas a handle, permit any key to 'be projected and the flashlight operatedby the fingers of said hand.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a holder of thistype which presents a smooth-surfaced article devoid of surfaces liableto wear holes in a garment pocket or receptacle in which it is carried.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder of this kind thatis simple, compact and durable in construction, extremely neat andattractive in appearance, inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise welladapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingin which- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a key holder embodying theinvention shown in folded condition.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the casing spread out, and showing akey in position.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the improved key and flashlightholder illustrated comprises a flexible casing 10, rectangular in shapewhen spread out as shown in Fig. 3 and composed of an outer layer 11 andan inner 2,699,192 Patented Jan. 11, 1955 "ice layer or lining 12 ofsuitable flexible plastic material, such as Vinylite, or the inner layeror lining 12 may be formed of leather. The layers are joined together attheir edges by heat sealing and pressure, but may be joined in any othersuitable manner. The casing is adapted to be folded along the transverselines 13 and 14 forming a central portion 15 and foldable side flapportions 16 and 17.

A key supporting plate 18 is secured to the top inner surface of thecentral portion 15 by rivets 19 or the like. The plate is formed with acurled upper edge 20 which projects inwardly of the plate and slightlyabove the top edge of the central portion. The curled edge is formedwith a plurality of slots 21 spaced therealong for pivotally supportingthe enlarged ends 22 of hooks 23 between the edge walls of such slots.The hooks detachably hold the keys 24 which may be of any desired typesuch as the tumbler lock type or the flat steel type.

Along the fold line 13, the casing is formed with a tubular housing orsleeve member 25 extending the length of the fold for detachablysupporting an electric flashlight 26, the barrel or casing of which isenclosed in the housing, with its bulb end 27 protruding from one endthereof close to the keys 24, and with its operating button 28 on theother end protruding from the opposite end of the housing forconvenience in operating.

The size and shape of the holder are such that it can be grasped in onehand and with the fingers thereof project a desired key and operate thebutton of the flashlight to direct light upon the key hole.

I claim:

'For a key holder comprising a flexible substantially flat body with acentral portion and foldable side flap portions adapted to be foldedinto overlapping relation and with fastening means for holding thefolded flap portions in closed relation, the side flap portions beingfoldable on well defined parallel lines, a tubular portion open at bothends at one side of the central portion outwardly of the fold line andat the inner edge of the adjacent side flap adapted to receive aflashlight, said tubular portion extending outwardly of the plane of thebody when the body is in open flatwise condition and forming anextension of the central portion when in folded condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,494,242 Hill May 13, 1924 1,502,380 Eiseman July 22, 1924 1,834,805Roddis Dec. 1, 1931 2,136,199 Swanson Nov. 8, 1938 2,210,048 SwansonAug. 6, 1940 2,625,645 Crane Jan. 13, 1953

